FOOTPRINT: POPULATION, CONSUMPTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE In 2011 a baby born in the Philippines marked a world population milestone: seven billion. Every life is cause for celebration, but with the population growing at a rapid speed, hitting such a high number raises serious concerns. Does Earth have enough resources to meet each child’s needs? Can it sustain the damage done by the humongous collective carbon footprint? And what do we do with all the trash? Even more troubling is the issue of equality. The United States accounts for just five percent of the world’s population, but uses over a quarter of the world’s fossil fuel resources—clearly the pie is not being equally shared. As the birth rate rises, so will the disparity. In FOOTPRINT: POPULATION, CONSUMPTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY, director Valentina Canavesio tours the planet, surveying the results of population explosions and overconsumption. This revealing film also spotlights activists who are doing all they can to limit population growth, despite the fierce opposition that such a controversial issue brings. Canavesio’s exceptional documentary offers a comprehensive profile of a planet stretched beyond its limits. (In English, Swahili, Urdu, Tagalog, and Spanish with subtitles) —E.F.